Quilting-frame for sewing-machines



(No Model.)

B. W. HEAGKER. QUILTING FRAME FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 593,523.

Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

as as. moYoLrrnou WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN W. HEAOKER, OF IDA, TEXAS.

QUILTING-FRAME FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,523, dated November 9, 1897..

Application filed January 29, 1897. Serial No. 621,182. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. HEACKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ida, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quilting-Frames for Sewing- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to quilting-frames for sewing-machines, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient quilting-frame adapted to be suspended from an overhead support and to be used in connection with an ordinary sewing-machine, the frame being detachably mounted, so that it may be set up in any room regardless of the height of the ceiling and adjusted to the proper level for enabling the same to be passed across the bed of the sewing-machine.

One of the chief aims of the present invention is to provide proper means whereby the quilting-frame proper may be readily adjusted relatively to its suspension-bar in order to properly balance the frame as the quilt is shifted from one roller or pole to the other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrange ment of parts, as hereinafter particularly set forth, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved quilting-frame and the manner of suspending the same from an overhead support. Fig. 2 shows one of the end bars of the frame in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section showing the adjustable connection between one of the end bars of the frame and the longitudinal brace.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an overhead track of any suitablellength, the same consisting, preferably, of a wooden rail provided on its upper edge with a centrally-located andlongitudinally-extending rounded bead 2. Each end of said track is supported upon a bracket 3, the same being secured to the ceiling and depending sufficiently therefrom to locate the track 1 at a distance from the ceiling sufficient to provide for the movement on the track of a carrier 4. The carrier at comprises ablock having secured to its opposite ends forked frames 5, in which are mounted pulleys or rollers 6, the rims of which are exteriorly grooved to engage and travel upon the bead 2 of the track 1. Secured to one side of the block or carrier 4: is a suspension-bar 7, provided with a longitudinal slot 8 of approximately one-half the length of the bar. 9 designates a similar bar, from which the quilting-frame is suspended, the bar 9 being provided with a plurality of openings 10 for the passage of one or more bolts 11, adapted to pass also through the slot 8 in the upper bar 7 for securing the two bars rigidlytogether and at the same time enabling said bars to be adjusted longitudinally upon each other for varying the distance between the quiltingframe hereinafter described and the overhead track, thus adapting the quilting-frame to be maintained at any desired elevation according to the height of the sewing-machine in connection with which the device is to be used.

The quilting-frame 12 comprises end bars 13, which are located at a distance apart equal to or slightly greater than the length of the quilt and provided at corresponding points with holes 14, through which screws or other suitable fasteners pass for entering the ends of the rollers or poles 15. The outer rollers 15 are permanently connected to the end bars 13 and need not be made removable. The intermediate roller, however, is provided with end bearings. which are removably fitted in openings 16 in the end bars 13, said openings 16 being in communication with angularly and obliquely disposed slots 17, opening out of the top edge of the end bars 13. By this means the intermediate roller or pole can be detached from the frame for allowing the batten to be placed between the thicknesses of the quilt. The end bars 13 are fu rther'connectedby means of a longitudinal brace 18, preferably made thicker or heavier at its central portion than at its ends,

the said brace tapering from its central portion in both directions toward its ends and being provided at each end with a clampingbolt 19, the lower end of which is hooked, as indicated at 20, to pass under and partially embrace the adjacent end bar, the upper end of said bolt being threaded to receive a thumb-nut 21, by which the brace may be firmly clamped to the end bars. This particular connection between the end bars and the connecting-brace admits of the said brace being adjusted relatively to said end bars, and as the quilting-frame as a whole is suspended from the bar 9 by means of a hook 23, the said brace engaging with an eye 24 on the lower end of the bar 9, the quiltingframe may in this manner be accurately balanced according to the distribution of the quilting material thereon and as often as the shifting of the quilting material may require the rebalancing of said frame. The end bars 13 are also provided with series of hooks 25 for engagement with chains 26, secured to and Wrapped around the ends of the poles or rollers 15, whereby said rollers when turned for tightening the quilting material may be thereafter prevented from unrolling and loosening said material. The track 1 is provided with an eye 27, with which the hook 23 of the quilting-frame may engage for holding or hanging the quilting-frame out of the way when not in use. If desired, the quilting-frame, together with the carrier and suspension bars, may be detached from the track and stored away.

The quilting-frame and its connections above described are extremely simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and will be found particularly desirable on account of the simple means by which the quilting-frame proper may be balanced so as to prevent the same from canting or tilting to one side, so as to drag unevenly in its passage over the sewing-machine. One of the end bars of the frame is provided on its upper side with a depression or recess 28, adapting the same to be passed under the presserfoot of the sewing-machine, thus obviating the necesity of uncoupling or taking apart the quilting-fram c.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

In a quilting-frame, the combination with the frame proper, and means for suspending said frame from an overhead support, of a brace interposed between and abutting at its ends against the end bars of the quilting-v frame, hooked clamping-bolts slidingly fitted in openings in the ends of the brace and embracing the end bars of the quilting-frame upon three sides, whereby the quilting-frame may be shifted, and thumb-nuts for tightening said bolts substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. E. LOONEY, G. L. SooTT. 

